Labour suspends 11 councillors embroiled in ‘vile and antisemitic’ WhatsApp scandal as Starmer snaps after two MPs sacked
Nigel Farage says the UK is in 'very much deeper trouble than they care to admit'
GB News
Labour has suspended 11 of its councillors over controversial messages sent in a WhatsApp group.
Nine Tameside and two Stockport councillors had been suspended, a party spokesperson said.
A Labour party spokesperson said: “As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, a group of councillors have been administratively suspended from the Labour Party.
“As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures and this process is ongoing. Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”
It comes after MPs Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynn lost the whip for their involvement in the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group.
Last week, Gwynne, a former health minister, was given the axe after online messages were exposed - with one post saying that he hoped one of his elderly constituents who did not vote Labour would die by the next election, whillst other comments were he made were deemed antisemitic.
Following this, Ryan was told he had lost the whip, meaning he will now sit as an independent MP in the Commons.
It is thought that about 44 people were members of the WhatsApp group.
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King Charles to host Windsor Castle 'sleepover' for Keir Starmer and UK's devolved leaders
Keir Starmer and King CharlesPAThe King will host a dinner for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, along with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Windsor on Wednesday night, GB News can exclusively reveal.
The People's Channel understands the leaders of all the devolved nations of the UK will be travelling to Windsor Castle to have a late dinner with the King tomorrow night.
The evening is set to be dubbed a "sleepover" as some of the devolved leaders will be staying overnight in Windsor Castle and treated to a royal breakfast the following morning.
The event will be seen as the King acting as a unifying figure to bring together the UK's political leaders.
It will be the King's second intervention in politics this week after hosting Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner at a housing development in Cornwall on Monday.
MPs says Westminster must 'radically reshape' its culture following allegation of spiking at Parliament bar
Westminster must “radically reshape” its culture if it is to tackle sexual misconduct, an MP has warned as Parliament’s Strangers’ Bar prepares to reopen following an allegation of spiking.
The bar – a popular spot for MPs, journalists and parliamentary staff – has been closed since January 20 after a woman, reported to be a parliamentary researcher, told staff her drink had been tampered with.
Following a review of safety at the bar, it is set to reopen on February 24 after MPs agreed to a series of new measures to deter further incidents, including installing CCTV and providing extra training for staff.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who has been outspoken on the need improve behaviour in Westminster, said that she welcomed the changes as a “positive step”, but said it needed to go further.
“Ultimately it’s tinkering around the edges of the actual issue, unless we radically reshape how we deal with the culture in Parliament," she said.
Shock new poll has Reform UK surging to highest figure so far with more than one in four picking Farage's party
Reform has topped the latest national poll for the second week in a rowYouGovA national poll has put Reform UK surging to its highest figure so far - with more than one in four choosing Farage's party.
The research, conducted by pollster YouGov, reveals that 26 per cent of the public would vote for the populist party, if an election were to be held tomorrow - meaning that Reform has topped the poll for the second week in a row.
Labour is one point behind on 25 per cent, meanwhile the Tories are trailing at third place with 21 per cent.
Reform UK 'smells blood' in suspended Labour MPs' seats - could they win the key by-elections?
Reform UK is eyeing three electoral targets in the seats of the Labour MPs who have been suspended by the party and are under intense pressure to resign from office, therefore triggering a by-election.
Andrew Gwynne, who was also a health minister, was sacked yesterday after it emerged he had sent antisemitic, racist messages to a WhatsApp group called ‘Trigger Me Timbers’.
The MP for Gorton and Denton revealed his hope a pensioner would die before the next local elections and that a constituent would be ‘mown down by a truck’.
Government has no plans to switch to four-day working week
A spokesman for 10 Downing Street has said the Government had no plans to change its workers’ rights package.
It said: “In general terms, it is not Government policy to support a general move to a four-day week for five days’ worth of pay.”
It comes in response to a group of MPs - 12 Labour and one green - who want the Government to set up a body to look into bringing in a four-day week across the economy.
Peter Dowd, the Labour MP who put forward the amendment, said: “A four-day, 32-hour working week is the future of work and I urge my party to back this amendment so we can begin a much wider transition.”
Maya Ellis, Labour MP for Ribble Valley, said: “Data shows that working four days leads to greater productivity than five.
“That means in public organisations for example, that we can get through a higher volume of tasks, creating the increase in capacity we so desperately need to see in our public services.”
Britain's steel industry 'absolutely has a future' following Trump's tariffs announcement, Rayner says
Angela Rayner
PAAngela Rayner has said that she “absolutely” believes British steel “has a future” after the confirmation of US tariffs.
Donald Trump today announced his plans to slam steel imports with 25 per cent tariffs on "any steel coming into the United States".
Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday, the Deputy Prime Minister was asked what her message was for people and communities connected to the steel industry.
She said: “Well, we know that British steel has been through a very difficult time, and our Business Secretary has been working hard with the industry to make sure that we have a future for British steel.
“We’ve been doing that already. We will continue to do that, and our focus is making sure that that pipeline for that industry goes way on into the future.
“Obviously, we’ll have to see what comes out of the US and what that means to UK steel. But this Government is committed to supporting that industry into the future.”
Bank of England chief warns Reeves 'no trade-off' between financial stability and growth as she moves to water down regulation
Andrew Bailey has issued a stark warning against hasty financial deregulationGETTYAndrew Bailey has issued a stark warning against hasty financial deregulation, emphasising there is "no trade-off" between economic growth and financial stability.
Speaking at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in London, Bank of England governor cautioned against an emerging "reaction taking place against regulation."
The central bank chief specifically addressed the pushback against financial stability measures implemented after the 2008 crisis.
Britain WILL engage with US on tariffs feeding fears of Trump trade war
Downing Street has confirmed that the UK will "engage" with the US on the details of potential tariffs on the steel industry.
The PM's official spokesman said: “We will take a considered approach to this. We will engage with the US on the detail, but the Government is clear we will work in our national interest and this issue is no different to that.”
When asked about the possibility of retaliatory tariffs, the spokesman declared that he would not "get ahead" of conversations which would take place with the steel industry.
Reform UK eyes SEVEN electoral upsets this week as Farage looks to heap misery on stumbling Starmer
Reform UK has seven chances to land electoral body blows to Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories this week with council by-elections due in ‘fertile’ Farage territory.
Council wards are up for grabs in Wales, Scotland, the West Midlands, London and the South East of England, all areas Reform has been polling in strongly in recent weeks.
Council elections were thrust into the limelight last week by Farage and Reform after Labour Deputy PM Angela Rayner allowed nine councils to cancel their elections in May.
Labour sparks bitter trans row after appointing health minister who claims people can identify as llamas: 'It's delusional!'
Ashley Dalton has previously claimed that people could 'identify as llamas'PALabour's new Health Minister has sparked a blistering trans row on GB News after claiming that people can "identify as llamas" if they wish to.
Following the Government's WhatsApp scandal, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appointed Ashley Dalton to replace outgoing minister Andrew Gwynne.
However, the appointment has sparked controversy after Dalton's comments from 2016 resurfaced, where she claimed that if someone chose to identify "as a llama", they should be "treated with dignity and respect".
The new minister also advocated for the abolition of gendered bathrooms, saying: "Personally, I think we shouldn't have gendered bathrooms at all."
Discussing Dalton's remarks on GB News, broadcaster Dr Renee Hoenderkamp questioned "what hope is there for our children" if Labour's new health minister is "buying into delusion".
She fumed: "There have been so many stories today as a doctor that I find absolutely astounding that fall under this umbrella. This is delusion. Health ministers are buying into what is a delusion.
"You cannot become the opposite sex, it's delusional. And if this is who we've got in charge, what hope is there for our children? Teaching them at school what is actually biological right? What hope is there for sorting out our NHS into the really important scientific basis of male and female treatment?"
UK funded £1.3m diversity scheme in Mauritius during Chagos negotiations despite £18bn payment for Diego Garcia base
The UK splashed £1.3million of taxpayer funds on a diversity scheme in Mauritius
GETTY/PA
The UK splashed £1.3million of taxpayer funds on a diversity scheme in Mauritius while conducting the Chagos Islands' negotiations.
British taxpayers' cash has gone towards a bespoke aid programme - which included a scheme to hike up female representation in the Mauritian renewable energy sector - while Starmer was fighting to "surrender" the territory.
In his attempt to give up the Indian Ocean Territory, the PM has been blasted for the sheer cost of giving up the land - which could be up to £18billion to the Diego Garcia base.
The Government would be required to make the payment across 99 years.
Those fighting against the plans have claimed that Keir Starmer is trying to appease international courts - which could, in turn, put the UK's special relationship at risk.
The diversity scheme is costing Britain tens of thousands each month and is run by the British High Commission in Port Louis.
In addition to the £200,000 aimed at increasing the number of women and young people "occupying jobs in the renewable energy sector" by March this year.
The Government has deemed the project "good value for money" while Britain continues to foot the bill for training workshops for women and young people interested in green energy.
Britain not expected to join EU in retaliation against Donald Trump
Britain is not set to join the economic bloc in its fight to retaliate against America in the wake of Donald Trump's announcement of his plans to slam steel imports with 25 per cent tariffs.
The Republican announced that the new tariffs would be imposed on "any steel coming into the United States".
Senior Whitehall sources have revealed that plans for retaliatory tariffs on the US had been drafted up, although they shared concerns that any retaliatory move might end up spurring on more drastic action from the President.
Badenoch to take inspiration from Trump in newest media approach
The Leader of the Opposition has been inspired by the US President's media playbook as Tory co-chairman Nigel Huddleston announced that "non-traditional media outlets" are "vital" to engage younger voters.
In an email to commemorate Badenoch reaching 100 days in her role - a feat which has not been managed by all her successors - Nigel Huddleston said: "As we also saw in the USA, engagement with the non-traditional media outlets, such as podcasts, is vital to connecting with younger, more online audiences.
“There’s a lot we can learn from our sister parties around the world. Particularly those who’ve recently taken their party from opposition into Government," he added.
Farage blasts Labour's 19,000 migrant removals as 'feeble' pointing to 600,000 illegals in London
PA/Home Office
Nigel Farage has slammed Labour's crackdown on migration as "feeble" - as he pointed to 600,000 illegal migrants living in London alone.
Yesterday, Starmer's party bragged about removing 19,000 illegal migrants by releasing pictures of migrants' deportations.
The video, which is about two-and-a-half minutes long, shows multiple foreign nationals, some in restraints, being led onto a specially chartered aircraft.
It is believed that the Home Office carried out 5,074 enforced returned between July 5 last year and the end of January.
As a result, since the General Election last year, Home Office has claimed that a total of 18,987 unsuccessful asylum seekers, foreign criminals and illegal migrants have been removed from Britain and sent back to their home nation - the highest rate of returns in the UK since 2018.
Officials confirmed that 2,925 foreign national offenders have been deported.
"With an estimated 600,000 illegals in London alone, these numbers are feeble," he told the Daily Mail.
Research led by think tanks, campaign groups and universities, however, indicate that there are approximately 600,000 to 1.2million illegal migrants in Britain.
'Our hands are tied!' Labour accused of 'not listening' despite THIRD tractor protest by farmers: 'We have to wait four years for a U-turn'
Farmer James Fairlie claims Labour 'haven't grasped the importance of what they're messing with'PA / GB NewsA farmer has claimed that the agricultural industry will have to "wait longer than Labour survives in Government" before they see a U-turn on inheritance tax.
Following their third Westminster protest against the proposed changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, farmer James Fairlie told GB News that they are "still not being listened to".
Discussing the latest protest, Fairlie described a "buoyant atmosphere" in Westminster, but noted significant disappointment at the lack of official engagement with the Government.
"Rachel from accounts, she's just not listening, and I don't think Labour have grasped the importance of what they're messing with here," Fairlie said.
Labour MP proposes axing safeguarding provision in assisted dying bill
The Labour MP responsible for spearheading the assisted dying bill has sought to scrap a key safeguard of the controversial policy.
Kim Leadbeater proposed the removal of the requirement to gain a High Court's approval of each assisted death after ex-judges suggested that such a provision might overwhelm the courts.
Instead, the MP suggested that each case must be seen by a three-person panel, made up of a social worker and psychiatrist, accompanied by a senior lawyer or former High Court judge.
Starmer set to meet Trump as soon as NEXT WEEK in first summit since President enters Oval Office
The Prime Minister is due to visit Donald Trump in Washington DC
PA/REUTERS
The Prime Minister is due to visit Donald Trump in Washington DC before the end of February - marking their first engagement since the President entered the White House.
It is possible the meeting could take place as soon as next week while Downing Street remains alert for Trump's availability.
The summit of the two world leaders could prove detrimental to the "special relationship" between Britain and America as Donald Trump continues on his tariff tirade across the globe.
Donald Trump will not take aim at UK over tariffs, Mandelson says
Donald Trump will not take aim at Britain over tariffs, the British ambassador to the US has said.
Peter Mandelson - whose started his new job yesterday - promised to ensure the UK did not "become collateral damage" as the President imposes a number of tariffs internationally.
Although he admitted that he was "concerned" about potential tariffs on Britain, he said: "We actually have a very balanced trade relationship between Britain and the US. I don’t believe that his tariffs are actually directly targeted at us.
"That shouldn’t make us complacent, and I’m not complacent. I’m going to focus, in a laser-like way, on the dialogue between us to make sure that we do not become collateral damage in the US," he told the BBC.
"But in the meantime, I don’t think we should be overreacting."
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